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Gran Turismo 4 Launch Date

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the squeeling-tires dept.

Gamespot has the news that the much anticipated driving simulator Gran Turismo 4 releases on February 22nd in the U.S., while European drivers will be able to purchase the game on March 9th. From the article: "Before it finally launched in Japan on December 28, the much-lauded driving game had experienced delays of more than a year. Gran Turismo 4 will feature more than 700 automobiles from more than 80 manufacturers racing across new locales--including the city streets of the Big Apple and Las Vegas. Consistent with the series, drivers will compete in races to acquire various licenses and move up in the ranks. Unfortunately, the game will not include an online mode."

2 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. All this time, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    and still no online... Any word on when the online version is coming out? They delayed this game over 2 years, you'd think they would have SOME kind of online mode in there. Is choosing different angles on replays ("B-Spec mode") really as important to a game experience as going online in it?

  2. Re:What's the Big Deal? by Moby+Cock · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The Gran Turismo games really focus on accurate driving physics. Of course, the cars are indestructible which sort of throws a wrench in the accuracy. The GT games also focus on accurate upgrades to the cars. You can trick out your cars with all kinds of add-ons and such, not all of them will increase the car's performance either. The GT games are for gear heads and real race enthusiasts.

    The GTA games are more hedonistic in tone.

    For me, I could never get around the indestructible cars. It spoils the game, IMO. I know many people really enjoy the game, but for me the cars should have damage modelling. By focusing on reality physics the skills of driving are highlighted. This is cool, but cornering can also involve ricochets off of other cars, as a perfectly valid race technique (in game). This is totally outside the idea of simulation that the games attempts to acheive. And, for me, it spoils it.

    I understand the reason for it. The auto makers want there cars to look great in the game. But I'm not so sure that damage modelling would adversely effect the marketing aspect of the car licensing.

    I may rent GT4, but I won't buy it.